We’re looking forward to introducing you to Stanley Agwere. Check out our conversation below.
Stanley, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
This really resonate with me at this point in my life and carrier because initially when I started, it was a total wandering in the wilderness with little or no compass by the way but resilience and faith kept me gradually through the process of fashion development and today finding me walking the path.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Essien, an Afro-luxury brand founded on the belief that culture creates fashion. Essien doesn’t begin with trends or seasons — it begins in the village, where heritage, symbolism, and ancestral rhythm shape the way we understand beauty. I built this brand to prove that the highest form of luxury is not excess, but origin.
Essien is special because it treats culture as a living, breathing language. Every piece we create carries the spirit of African identity — reimagined for the bold, modern individual who values meaning as much as style. We design for fashion enthusiasts who want to wear stories, not just garments; who want adventure, confidence, and connection woven into their clothes.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding Essien into a globally recognized Afro-luxury house, while staying rooted in the authenticity that makes our work powerful. The future is African, and Essien is here to broaden what luxury can look and feel like for the world.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a kid shaped by culture — by color, rhythm, history, and the quiet power of the village. I was someone who found beauty in the everyday rituals of my people: the fabrics hanging in open-air markets, the stories carried by elders, the pride woven into things made by hand.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Some of the defining wounds of my life came from being told, directly or indirectly, that my culture wasn’t enough. That African creativity needed to “fit in” to be valued. That the village wasn’t a source of sophistication. That luxury had to come from somewhere else.
Those messages can cut deep, especially for a young creative who feels the fire of possibility but keeps hearing that the world expects something smaller, safer, or more predictable.
I healed by returning to the very things the world said were not worthy — my heritage, my identity, my origins. I realized that the wound wasn’t a weakness; it was an awakening. It pushed me back toward the culture that raised me and reminded me that the most powerful art comes from authenticity, not approval.
Creating Essien became part of that healing. Every design, every story, every piece is a declaration that our culture is luxury — that the village is not behind, it is ahead. I healed by honoring where I come from, and by building something that allows others to feel seen, powerful, and proud of their roots.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I deeply admire my brand manager, Bob Cal — not for his power, but for his character. He embodies the spirit of Afro-luxury in a way that is rare, especially as someone who did not grow up within the culture. Everything he touches becomes a kind of village: collaborative, communal, and rooted in shared purpose.
He has an instinct for turning ideas into communities and communities into movements. That is why Essien feels authentic, grounded, and alive. His character — his humility, his openness, and his genuine love for culture — is a big part of what makes this brand successful and true.
In a world where many chase influence, Bob brings integrity. And that, to me, is real luxury.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I was someone who honored where he came from — and made the world honor it too. That I turned culture into a language of luxury, and reminded people that the village is not something to escape, but something to build from.
I want the story to be that I used creativity to reconnect people with themselves. That I made others feel seen, powerful, and proud of their origins. That I treated culture with respect, treated people with dignity, and treated fashion as a medium for identity, not ego.
And above all, I hope they say I built something that outlived me — not just a brand, but a cultural movement. A reminder that our stories, our symbols, and our heritage are enough. More than enough.
If people remember me as someone who protected culture and transformed it into a global force, then that will be the story worth telling.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Essienbrand
- Linkedin: Bobu Cal
- Twitter: Essienbrand
- Facebook: Essienbrand
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
